The Wonderful Stranges

The Wonderful Stranges is a perfect title for a book about embracing uncertainty and celebrating diversity, all wrapped up in an exciting story. A rather narrow-minded and infantile mayor (symbolised by the water wings he wears) refuses to welcome a new family—the Stranges—into his village. They are far too creative and interesting for his tastes and choose to live in a way that is "completely outrageous". It is not until the village is destroyed by a climate change emergency, and the Stranges save the day, that minds are opened.

The colour palette used and the wildly energetic and detailed illustrations add magic to the story. The writer uses a satisfying rhyme scheme and a range of vivid and onomatopoeic vocabulary. I think few children would fail to engage with this book on some level and adults will enjoy reading it to them. This book deserves a place in junior classrooms. Its size means it can easily be read to groups of students and there are plenty of discussion points on every page.